The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-10-20

mistake of President Lincoln furnished the
confederates with nearly two hundred officers
of skill 0and experience, whose designations
he accepted after Sumter had been fired up
on, and when it was known they were about
to take up arms against the Union.
1 hold in my hand the official army register,
published by order of the Secretary of War,
in September, 1861, which gives the names
and dates of the designations of southern
officers, which were accepted by Mr.. Lincoln
after our flag had been fred upon at Sumter
And in this list we find the names OF Robert
E. Lee, Albert Sidney Johnston and Joseph
E. Johnston the equals of Grant and Nc
Clellan and Sheridan. And also the names
James E. LongIreet, one of the thunderbolts
of southern war; of Pickett, whose name was
made immortal with that of Hancock, the
hero of Gettysburg, in that decisive battle of
the war; and also the names of Kirby Smith,
Beauregard, Van Dorm, Pemberton, Stephen
D. Lee, Magruder, Bee, the Hills, the Car
netts, and of J. E. B. Stuart, of the Black
Horse cavalry, whose fame will live as long
as history is written and read and these men
were the equals of our Hooker, who won
victory when fighting above the clouds; of
Buell., the victor of Shiloh of Mcpherson,
the Dessaix of our western armies of Thom-
as, the model soldier and patriot; of Sher-
man, the hero of the march to the sea; OF
Mcdowell, one of the truest and ablest OF all
our generals, and Slocum and Logan, Nc
| n IL md blair and
scores of others, their equals, who often led
our armies to battle. Had it not been for
the services in the cause of the south of those
TWO hundred officers of the army of the
United States, transformed by the act of
President Lincoln into confederate officers,
the confederacy would have been crushed
like an egg-shell in the first shock of the con-
tending armies. At Bull Run, the first great
battle of the civil war, the confederates were
narshalled and led by Joe Johnston, and
Beauregard, and Stonewall Jackson, and Bee,
md Kirby Smith and others, who had held
commissions in the regular army of the
United States.
Had those officers been placed under arrest
when their designations were rendered, the
arrests would have been respected. And
even had they been broken, and had the ar
rested officers gone over to the enemy, the
act would have been desertion, punishable
according to the laws of war. But the arrests
would not have been broken, and the con-
federacy would have been left without officers
capable of organizing and commanding
armies.
But to be more specific. War was declared
against the United States by the adoption Of
national constitution by the seeding states,
and by the Inauguration of Jefferson Davis as
president of the confederacy, on the
eighteenth day of February, 1851; and the
first act of armed hostility was the firing up
On a transport sailing under our national flag,
and upon Fort Sumter on the twelfth day o.
April, 1861. Immediately after the inaugu
ration of Mr.. Davis, the designations of the
following officers were accepted, as car
be seen by all who choose to look il
the "Oficial Army Register, for September
1861" published by order of the Secretary
of War, in compliance with a resolution o
the Senate of August 8, 1861; pages from g.
to 65 inclusive-and those officers were a
once commissioned in the Confederate service
They had been previously commissioned a
officers in our regular army, by the Presiden
of the United States, and their resignation
could only be, and were accepted by tn
President of the United States, who was thel
Mr.. Lincoln.
,od Eoh
Stephen D. Lee resigned February 20. 1881.
w. II. Whiting resigned February 20, 1851
A. p. Hill resigned Feb. 20. 1851.
r. H. Anderson resigned March 8, 1851.
Barnard E. Bee resigned March 1851.
Martin {. smith resigned April i, 1851.
E. Kirby Smiths resignation was accepted o.
April 6, 1851.
The following are the names of a few of tn
many officers whose designations wer
accepted after the firing upon Fort Sumter
April IL, 1861.
Joseph E. Johnston: resigned April RI q, 1851.
Robert E. Lee resigned April Is, 1851
kcsard snes assrnset Tesened Nay T. ssi LOO
John Adams resigned May 81, 1851;
J. e B. Stewart resigned May Il, 1861.
Geo. E. Pickett resigned June Is, 1881.
Cadmus WILCOX resigned June 8, 1881
Henry Heth resigned April q: 1851:
s. 8. Anderson resigned April "a, 1851
John g. Pemberton resigned April %. 1881.
R 3. EWeu resigned May 2, lo6l
Jno. B. Magruder resigned April 20, 1861.
Robert 8. Garnett resigned April 90 1851.
John 2. MCGOWAN resigned May II, 1851.
George B. Crittenden resigned May Is, 1851.
John S. Marmaduke resigned May II, 1851
The foregoing names are given becaus
they were among the foremost leaders of tn
Confederate armies.
The mistake of President Lincoln wa
without parallel in history, but for all tina
Mr.. Lincoln was great man no one doub
that his intention patriotic.
At Appomatox, in spirit of splendi